Thursday morning a St. Louis County Circuit Judge set a January 4th hearing date on forcing four alderman back to work.

Dellwood’s city attorney, Donnell Smith filed a motion Wednesday to force four aldermen back to work. Those aldermen have boycotted board meetings, in an attempt to prevent a vote on disbanding the Dellwood Police Department.

Those four aldermen are now being represented by former Dellwood Municipal Judge John Maxwell, who has filed a motion. It contends they have an obligation to boycott the meetings because the majority of citizens do not want to disband the current police force and turn control over to Saint Louis County.

“We’re not seeking that they are compelled to place a vote because that deals with an issue of discretion. We are just simply asking for the task of attending the meetings which the law requires of their position,” explained Smith.

Donnell Smith says if the judge orders the aldermen to appear, they must abide by the ruling, failure to comply, can result in being held in contempt of court.